TWITCHER Phillip Sydenham, of Brooks Place, Wellington, says he spotted a rare Montagu’s Harrier above the town chasing housemartins last Monday at about 4.30pm. He said it was a male juvenile bird, two-tone brown in colour.

The RSPB says the Montagu’s Harrier is a slim, medium-sized, long-winged bird with a long tail somewhat smaller than a buzzard. It is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK and its status is precarious. It visits in summer and migrates to Africa to spend the winter.